This continues a bad end, leading on from the previous chapter.

Color drained from Courage's face as she felt an icy stab through the contact with Nothing's lips. The water of the Styx felt a warm body, and it hungered for the soul that dwelled within.

The universe seemed to freeze. "You really wanted to end this so quickly?"

"Please, just tell me what I have to do to avoid… to avoid this!" Courage screamed, gesturing with a hoof at the image of herself and Nothing kissing. "I just want to go home, please?"

"I don't think you have learned the lesson of this journey quite yet."

Courage whimpered and felt herself drawn towards the static image. Closing her eyes, she felt the scene drag her back in. The moment her body connected with the other, time started to flow, and she was shunted to the back of her mind. The Courage in control of her body lacked any knowledge of that other being, but she knew the soul-twisting pain the water of the Styx tried to inflict.

But the icy, magic water found an echo of itself within Courage. A demonic pony who had already faced the Styx and given herself to it. Courage felt the waters embrace her. Trembling in pain still—the Styx was not a gentle river—she looked into Nothing's eyes. "You're not a bad kisser, Death."

Even hearing the moniker "Death" did nothing to curb Nothing's enthusiasm. Shoving forward, he pressed his deadly lips to Courage and wrapped one big foreleg around the only mare who would not be killed by his touch.

"Well, such a position to be in." Alphias looked from one of his mates—under a huge stallion—to the other—making out with Death. "My lovely mares grow in power, as does… His… for having them as his followers." The words were egotistical, and in no small part expository of his situation, but it helped him work through his plan. "Corignis?"

Corignis' body was burning with need, but it was a need that was being slowly sated. She slammed back with every stroke Thunder delivered, meeting his body with needy groans. Her name, a part of her true name, cut through the hunger. Turning her head while keeping her rocking motion going, she smiled to Alphias. "I have a mouth, too."

"You have a lovely mouth, Corignis." Alphias walked to where the mare in question stood, and completely ignored the stallion riding her. "A tasty mouth, too." He leaned down and kissed Corignis.

Ice and fire exploded in Alphias' mouth, and he couldn't help but press harder against Corignis' lips. Hunger and need burst through his body as his mate's desires became his own. Holding nothing back, Alphias' passion became an inferno despite the chill of Corignis' power drinking at him.

"On me. Now." Corignis barely got the words out and she had another weight to support. Ducking her head, she spotted her target and opened her mouth for Alphias. Hot, hard, and all for her, his length fed into her, poking to her throat and deeper.

Unable to stop with such need bleeding into him from his mate, Alphias started bucking. Joined in pleasure, he felt his body burn hotter to counter the chill. The other stallion that Alphias had earlier dismissed now became a new target. He had not considered other stallions as partners before, but filled with an arch-demon-succubus' desire, he pressed his lips to the waiting mouth of Thunder Hoof.

Corignis' magic was running wild. She felt the passion of both stallions flowing into her, but her eyes alighted on Courage and Nothing. Like a fat, lazy tentacle, Corignis' power reached to the two other arch-demons, infected them, and latched on.

Nothing couldn't hold back; he was suddenly feeling flesh and bones again and wanted to prove to Courage just how thankful he was for it. Nipping down her body with deadly bites, he reared up and landed on her back.

When Nothing closed his "eyes," he could almost believe he wasn't Death. He was atop Courage as he had been before, and it felt very right. Shoving forward, his body found hers waiting, and as more of Corignis' magic touched him, he claimed Courage's body. The dance was quickly joined, and with the Styx accepting Courage, he quickly built his pleasure within her.

Corignis felt more power—felt her hunger burn colder despite it. She wanted to beg for more, but with two very excited stallions servicing her, she had no way to say the words. Instead, she spread her magic out, reaching to a large group of ponies she felt nearby. She wished she had the patience to be gentle with them, but her hunger wanted food now. She shoved magic into a mare, and felt a link forged between her and the young maiden.

"My Empress?" Persephone jerked her head up from the alfalfa she was eating. She had been in Gluttony a long time, but she had kept herself smaller than the average hot-air balloon by keeping her diet much more tame than the others. Her wings let go of the plate of green shoots, and she stared around her. Mares, stallions, everypony looked tastier than what she had been munching on. The words she had spoken had been a strange reflex, but she ignored it.

The mare's willingness enchanted Corignis, and she reached deep into the mare. Power flowed into Persephone, and even as Corignis invested her with magic, she also invested her with Corignis' own hunger.

The Circle itself stirred, feeling the power gathering in a willing supplicant. Content normally to feed its inmates until they were ready to burst, Gluttony poured into a succubus, raising her power further, claiming her as its Empress.

Alphias stepped out of the portal and into Lust, not that it felt like he wasn't coming from it. Ignoring the succubi that was waiting to greet them, he turned to Corignis. "Careful, or Celeph might tear you to pieces just for stepping foot here. The old queen is none-too-fond of other lords in her domain."

The building that held them, hewn from rock, was crude but familiar to some of the group. Staring in shock at the group, a single succubus backed into a corner.

"Really?" Corignis blinked a few times and opened her mouth wide. "Celeph!" Her bellow shook the hall around her, and Corignis was left smiling at the effect it had on the local succubi.

"Y-You're mad with power, Corignis!" Alphias started drawing his own power, preparing a portal to take them away. Courage's forehoof slashed through his prepared spell, scattering the magic. "What are you doi—"

Celeph stormed into the room and stared at the group. Her eyes narrowed as she examined Nothing and Alphias, but the corners of her mouth turned up when she saw Courage and Corignis. "Well, well, well. My girls are all grown up. You both reek of arch-demonhood, sex, and… hunger." She licked her lips and stepped closer to the group.

Courage leaned against Alphias. "Don't worry. Celeph is our mother… kinda." She watched the Queen of Lust march up to Corignis.

"You have grown, my daughter." Celeph leaned forward and met Corignis with a kiss. The moment their lips touched, her own icy hunger met Corignis'. "Whoa!" Celeph pulled back and blinked in surprise. "That is new. When did you get so hungry?"

"I am a glutton for such things now." Corignis smiled wider at her pun, and felt the aching maw inside beg for just another taste of the Queen of Lust. "Sorry, but I have to…" She leaned forward and kissed Celeph again.

Celeph moaned as need and hunger poured in and drew back. It was a rush of power she hadn't expected Corignis would ever possess. The kiss broke just as suddenly, and when she pulled back Corignis looked as hungry as ever. "What…?"

"Sorry, I needed a taste." Corignis trembled in bliss. "You are delicious." Still close enough, Corignis licked Celeph's snout.

"Hold on. You said you were a glutton?" Celeph looked from Corignis to Alphias, then to Nothing, and finally Courage. "What is going on here?" Her tone demanded an answer, it was her Circle after all.

"Allow me to present," Alphias bowed his head and gestured to Corignis, "the Master of Gluttony, Empress Corignis." He watched Celeph's face register shock and amazement. "There is more. You know I am Master of Avarice, but I also have the delight in presenting Mistress Courage, Master of Heresy."

Celeph's eyes bulged now. She barely registered Nothing, knowing full well that "Death" was the Master of Wrath and Sullenness. "Five lords meet. This is no coincidence. I can think of only one reason the Lord of the Pit would allow you from your Circles."

"War." Alphias smiled. "Celeph, I have come to call on you and yours. Your demons make some of the best irregular fighters we have." This time, when Alphias started to rip a hole between Circles, nopony moved to stop him.

"Well, the company is pleasant if nothing else." Celeph waved a hoof around her four visitors. "But I am not bringing my army. If it weren't for these two wonderful mares, I would be trapped here still. Enslaved, I might add, by the flunky sponsored by Lord 'Two-Horny.' "

"He almost deposed you?" Alphias finished the spell, opening his portal up to Tartarus. Nothing stalked forward, first to breach the tear between Circles.

" 'Almost'? If it weren't for my daughters I would still be trapped, feeding Mistress' succubi like a sweetmeat." Celeph shuddered. "Which is why I can trust the darlings, despite their power… adjustments."

Courage was trembling inwardly. The part of her that hated every second of this premonition was wailing and screaming. The part of Courage that was in control, however, smiled at Celeph, Alphias, and Corignis, then walked through the portal.

"You have bound yourself to the Pit this time, closer than even its Lord."

"Shut up! If you aren't going to help me I might as well just let this one happen. It's all hopeless, no matter what I do!" Courage spun around in circles, looking for the source of the voice. "Why don't you show yourself so I can see who is tormenting me?"

"See me so you can use me to break free. I think not. You think a lot like a demon now, Courage Fire, you even let the demons give you a name."

Courage stumbled as she fell out of the portal. A strong leg supported her, and she looked at its owner. "Thank you," quickly remembering where she was, Courage adjusted her choice of name, "Death."

Nothing leaned down as he pulled Courage to her hooves. "Never a problem, Mistress of my Heart." He kissed Courage then pulled back.

"Well, well, well. What is this?" The Lord of the Pit tried his best not to gape at Nothing courting a mare, a mare that should be dead. "Death, I knew not you were willing to steal my own sluts."

Alphias, Corignis, and Celeph strode through the portal next, and all three got to witness Courage laughing in the Lord of the Pit's face.

"Slut? Is that what you think of me?" Courage bared long fangs she didn't realize she owned. "Choose your words carefully, or I will leave with my Circle's power."

The words earned Courage a double-take from the Lord of the Pit. His gaze flicked to Corignis, and despite his attempts to pull at each with the slavery spell, neither mare reacted. "Curious. Very well. Is this all of us?"

Alphias looked around. The huge half-snake demon was surrounded by a veritable swarm of scaly bodies. Above, the wyrm that was the Lord of Violence circled while his beasts roamed like wild animals. In chains, with a large collar around his neck, Star Swirl looked miserable., Alphias could only assume that the reason the old pony's presence was tolerated at all was because he was actually a Lord, despite being a demon only in the loosest sense of the word.

"Are we ready?" Alphias stepped forward, planting himself between the Lord of the Pit and his mates—Celeph and Nothing too, by their proximity to Courage and Corignis. "Your own little games have left several Circles devoid of fine warriors. Lust, Heresy, and even Gluttony want for fresh souls."

"You reap what you sow." Nothing kept all the laughter and life from his voice, like his grandpa had showed him. He had trembled when he learned it, but now that it was his own voice, Nothing smiled.

"Lust had a little shakeup. There were rats in my grain," Celeph bowed to Nothing and smiled for the farm metaphor, "but it is fine now; I found how they got in." She wound up looking impassively at the Lord of the Pit.

"Let's begin, then." Alphias trod on the Lord of the Pit's hooves by presuming to give the order, and then he walked past him casually. "Can you open the gates for us?"

Realizing he was losing control of the situation, the Lord of the Pit grumbled to himself, and reached out to steal Courage's magic. "We have this one. Her soul will open the gate!" He stopped and stared. Fumbling again, he found himself unable to snare Courage's soul. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Didn't you get the memo?" Courage rolled her eyes. "You can't use me for that. After what you put me through, I have no soul." Outwardly she laughed in the Lord of the Pit's face, but inwardly Courage was scared beyond belief.

"Oh, buck no!" The tiny voice inside Courage trembled in fear as the Lord of the Pit searched her for her soul.

"No, he won't find you." For the first time since hearing the voice, Courage felt warmth in it.

Author's Notes:

Not the end, not even an end... yet. Next week fury strikes. Can the Armies of the Pit overcome Cerberus? What else will lay in wait for them outside the gate?

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????

"Nopony asked, but I wanted to tell you all: this is for Courage's own good. I have been in the dark place she walks—not the Pit, but close—but there are no rainbows to save her. She needs to make her own light, not cut her way free with foul magics."

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So I do this "Ask x" thing, x can be any pony within the story. You can ask them anything and I they will definitely hopefully reply. Keep the questions appropriate to the age-rating of the stories and of course, I they will answer the best question(s) in the author notes of the next chapter. The more votes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right pony to answer, try and keep it to one answer per post! I They will pick one question per chapter. (note, the commissioner will answer questions in the comments, since this is their OC)

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